16 February 2024 , 09:49
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Ilia Topuria borrowed a stunt from Conor McGregor by stealing Alex Volkanovski's UFC belt ahead of their world title fight.
Topuria looks to extend his unbeaten streak to 15 fights on Saturday at UFC 298 by becoming the first man to beat Volkanovski at featherweight. Volkanovski has suffered two defeats in his last three fights but both came when he moved up to lightweight to challenge for Islam Makhachev's belt.
And whilst Volkanovski was answering a question at last night's press conference, Topuria unexpectedly lunged across the table and stole his world title. The Spaniard held it up to the Los Angeles crowd before giving it back and fans instantly compared the moment to McGregor stealing Jose Aldo's featherweight belt before their ill-fated fight at UFC 189 in July 2015.
What are your thoughts on Ilia Topuria stealing Alex Volkanovski's UFC belt? Let us know in the comments section below
McGregor went onto knockout Aldo in just 13 seconds when they eventually fought at UFC 194 that December. "I feel like you lose aura when u take someone’s gimmick but maybe that’s just me," one comment read. "The word cringe has become cringe but holy f*** this is cringe," a second user added.
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"If you watched the conference, he’s trying so hard to act like Conor. Even Volkanovski called him out on it," a third user wrote. There are many similarities between Topuria and McGregor going into their undisputed featherweight world title fights: both were 6-0 in the UFC, on a 14-fight winning streak and 27-years-old.
Topuria has also used McGregor's iconic 'red panty night' phrase in the build-up to the fight and Volkanovski said of his rival: “I’m going to make this look easy, how about this guy, hey? How about it? Conor McGregor wannabe, huh? How about this bloke, talking about red panty night, he likes to wear the red panties."
“That’s the last time you are enjoying that belt because it’s coming my way. I’m coming to take your head off. I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts, after Saturday night I’m going to change the whole game. I’m going to end his world and mine is going to start," Topuria replied.